By Darshan ChickeryMarch 18, 2009
Richmond Hill Sports Club beat FSCA I (Orlando) by eighty five runs
to take home the inaugural Orlando Cup last Sunday at Airport Road
Park in Orlando, FL.

The
victorious Richmond Hill Sports Club with supporters and awards.

The Orlando Cup 2009
was played over a two day period last weekend (March 14th and 15th)
in Orlando, FL between five teams: FSCA I (Orlando) and FSCA II
(Orlando), SFSCA (South Florida), Avengers (NY) and Richmond Hill
(NY).

At the end of the preliminary
round of play between the five teams, FSCA I and Richmond Hill emerged
atop of the points table of the round robin format, hence with the
opportunity of winning the 20/20 competition.

After a brief strategy
session by both teams, the coin toss was won by Richmond Hill. A
feat their captain, Kumar Chickery managed to achieve successfully
throughout the competition – a total of five times. Richmond
Hill decided to bat first.

Prasana Malipal and Ahmad
Shazaman (Zaman) opened the batting and gave their team a solid
opening partnership of 38 in five overs before Zaman was caught
on the long off boundary for 15. Malipal followed in the next over
when he attempted a reverse sweep shot. He made 14.

Latchman Mohan (Junior)
joined Clifflee Velaidum at the wicket and together they added 23
for the third wicket. Velaidum was the aggressor and it showed when
he was out for 17. Andy Siewraj joined Junior. They put on 29 for
the fourth wicket before Andy played a lazy pull shot off a short
ball and was dismissed for 12.

Khemraj Narine (Buns)
came to the wicket and wasted no time. He batted as though he was
late for a flight. He made a quick twenty five that contained three
sixes. Ravi Lutchman joined Junior who was solid a as rock throughout
his inning of 25 with two sixes. When Junior was out, the score
was 151 for 6 at the end of the 19th over. Richmond Hill had set
a target score of 140 in their strategy session. Lutchman was apparently
not satisfied, as he took 21 runs from the last over. His pugnacious
knock of 34 not out included three sixes and two fours.

Richmond Hill made 172
for 6 off their allotted 20 overs. Rakesh Mahase and Moti Singh
took 2 for 22 and 2 for 47 respectively.

FSCA I (Orlando) was
off to a decent start of 20 in three overs before loosing two quick
wickets to be restricted to 27 for 2 in the 5th over. Daniel Sadeo
and Sham Verasammy took the score to 66 before Verasammy was caught
off the bowling of Ahmed Shazaman (Zaman) for 10. Prior to that
dismissal, FSCA I was well place at 60 for 2 at the end of the 7th
over.

Zaman would struck again
and often in his spell of three overs. He destroyed the Orlando
batting with 6 for 13. Orlando was bundled out for 87. Additional
bowling support came from V. Samaroo (Deo) 1 for 13, Moe Khan 1
for 15 and Ravi Lutchman 1 for 14. Daniel Sadeo top scored with
23. Richmond Hill’s, Ahmad Shazaman had the distinct honor
of carting off the series MVP honors and Man of the Match award
in the finals.